Monolithic wall forming apparatus



July 20, 1 J. B. WlNN, JR

MONOLITHIC WALL FORMING APPARATUS Original Filed July 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 QMEWGG QR QQWMQQQQQU QR INVENTOR JAMES B. W/N/V JR.

ATTORNEY y 20, 1965 J. B. WlNN, JR 3,195,208

MONOLITHIC WALL FORMING APPARATUS Original Filed July 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 zwflu M a 76 I6 lee V 8/ 25 I f 723 r 20 I190 49 F/G'.5 z

' I INVENT OR r L 4 40 55 4 JAMES awnv/vJR. a0 8/ BY zymm ATTORNEY July 20, 1965 J. B. WINN, JR

MONOLITHIC WALL FORMING APPARATUS Original Filed. July 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JAMFSB. Wl/V/V JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent U 3,195,208 MONOLITHIC WALL FORMING APPARATU James B. Winn,..lr., Wimberiey, Tex., assignor to The Archiiithic Co., Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Original application July 18, 1957, Ser. No. 672,723, now Patent No. 3,034,732, dated May 15, 1962. Divided and this application Feb. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 191,384

3 Claims. (Cl.25-131) The present application is a continuation-impart of my earlier application Serial No. 524,010, filed July 25, 1955, now Patent No. 2,877,530, granted March 17, 1959 and a division of application Serial No. 672,723, filed July 18, 1957, now Patent No. 3,034,732, granted May 15, 1962 the latter being a continuation-in-part of the former.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in monolithic wall forming apparatus, that is, apparatus such as may be used for forming a wall in a continuous manner in situ. j

The principal object of the present invention is to facilitate formation of a strong, rigid wall without the use of conventional forms or molds, such a Wall being well able to retain its from without slumping or sagging while the material thereof is setting.

The above object is attained in the present apparatus by the provision of means for discharging fluid cementitious material in the space where a Wall is to be formed and simultaneously discharging fibrous reinforcing material therein, so that the fibrous material becomes intermixed with and embedded in the cementitious material during setting of the latter and substantially reinforces the same.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of means for discharging the cementitious and fibrous materials from the apparatus under the force of compressed air and varying the air pressure under which each material. is discharged, whereby the relative proportions of the two materials in the mixture may be varied as desired.

Anotherfeature of the present invention resides in provision of improved wall forming plates in'the appara+ tus, and in the provision of improved means for actuating these plates so as to. effectively shape and mold the wall being formed.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of means whereby .the apparatus maybe either supported by a universallymovable boom for formation of a wall in accordance with a pro-selected geometrical pattern, or may be supported by the hand of an operator and freely manipulated as a portable tool for finishing walls with proofings, plaster, and the like, or for building up reinforced mixes over open mesh wire, etc.

With the foregoing more important objects and features-in view and such other objects and features as may become-apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

wherein like characters of referenceare used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the present;

of the nozzle used in the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional detail of the jet pipe, takenv substantially in the plane of the line 5-5 in FIGURE 1; ;FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view on an en- Patented July 20, 1965 FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 77 in FIGURE 6; FIGURE 8 is a sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 88 in FIGURE 6;

' FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of one of the .wall forming plates; r 1 FIGURE 10 is apdiag rammatic illustration of the compressed air lines and plate actuating cylinders connected thereto; y l

FIGURE 11' is a'side elevational view of a slightly modified form of thelinve'ntion, detached from the supporting boom and adaptedfo'r portable use; and

' FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary elevational view'o f a slightly modified arrangement of the jet pipe connection. Referring now to the accompanying drawings in dedail, particularly to FIGURES 1-10 inclusive, the monolithic wall forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 15 an'd'is adapted to be'supported by a suitable, universally movable boom 16; As in my earlier application Serial No, 524,010, the boom 16 may be power actuated" and "adapted for movement in a straight or a curved path selectively in any desired direction. How-' tothe uprights in any suitable manner, such as for example, by welding. The cross-pieces 21 of the'two frame members 17 va're'adapted to 'abut th'e underside of the boom 16 while pressure pads 23, carriedby screws 24 exteudingthro'ugh threaded holes in the cross-piece 20,

clampingly engage the upper surface of the boom, where by to securelyjfasten the frame members 17 to the boom. The screws 24 are provided with suitable lock nuts 25 to prevent them from turning after the pads 23 have been clamped against the boom. foregoing that the framejmembers 17 may be readily applied to or'removed from the boom, and moreover, the spacing or distance between th frame members may be pre-adjusted, as desired." A i A pair of opposing wall forming plates 26 are supported by, the respective frame members 17, these plates having substantially parallel, vertical lower portions 26a and mutually divergent upper. portions 26b, as shown. The plates 26 are'provided at their upper'edges with outwardly projecting lugs 27 which are pivoted to the crosspieces 22 by suitable pins or rivets 28. The lower edges of the plates are similarly provided with outwardly projeeting lugs .29 which are pivoted to the cross-pieces 19 bythe pins or rivets 30, The pivots 28, 30 of each plate are vertically aligned; so that the two plates may rock about the vertical axes of the pivots as indicated by the arrows 3'1, 32 in FIGURE 6.

tudinally under the 'boom 16' and is provided with a down 1 turned, portion 33g equipped with an outlet nozzle 34. The latterisdisposed between the frame members 17 above the plates 26'so that material" discharged through the'nozzle is delivered into the space between the two plates 26 to form a wall. The flow of material from amazes It will be noted from the As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the nozzle 34 is provided on the down-turned portion 33a of the duct, being connected thereto by a suitable T-coupling 37 which accommodates therein a reduced portion or jet 38 formed at the end of the duct portion 33a itself in such manner that the jet 38'is spaced from but discharges into'the nozzle 34 and that a space 39 vexists in the coupling 37 around the jet andin communication with the nozzle, as illustrated. A compressed air line 40 is also connected to the coupling 37 and has a reduced end or jet 41 communicating with the space 39, sortha't when fluid cemen titious material is delivered under, pressure from a suitdownturned end portion attached/to the coupling 37 by a clamp 45 and projecting somewhat beyond the nozzle 34, as indicated at 42a. The pipe 42 is adapted for delivery of a suitable fibrou'sreinforcingmaterial 46 into the wall being formed, such'material being discharged through the end portion 42a of-Jhe pipein a substantially parallel direction to the flow'of material-from the nozzle 34, as indicated at 47.

i As is best shown in FIGURES, the pipe 42 is provided 7 with a T-coupling 48 having a compressed air line 49 connected thereto, the, reinforcing material 146 being delivered into the coupling through a pipe 50which enters the coupling longitudinally or axially through an end cap. 51 with which the coupling is equipped; The pipe 50 has a reducedjet end 52, surrounded by an air space 53in the coupling, So that compressed air delivered into the;

space 53 through the line 49 may'forcibly draw the ma tcrial through the pipe 50'and discharge the'same through the pipe 42, 'as indicatedat 47.

The rate of flow of compressed air through the line 49 is controlled, by a suitable valve '54, "while the flow of compressedair thronghlthe line is'controlled by a sim-. ilar valve 55. The lines 40, 49 are connected togetherby a T-coupling 56 which also communicates with. a compressed air supply line 57 I j p The duct 33 is connectedlby a quickly separable c0111 pling 58 to an extension 33b le'ading from a suitablepump for fluid cementitious' material; A flexible conduit 59; secured to the duct extension 33b by suitable clamps 60, serves to deliver, the fibrous reinforcing material. 46 into the pipe from a roll46a or some other suitable supply; of such material, it beingnoted that a space exists between the pipe 50 and the adjacent'end ofthe conduit59 so that it is not necessary to, provide a separable connection between ,these parts. When the apparatus is in operation, the space between the conduit 59 and the pipe 50 isrtraw versed by the flow of material therethroughh The compressed air supply line 57 is'connectediby a quickly separable coupling 61 to an. extensionline'57a leading from an air compressor (not shown), while an electric COD: ductor 62, equipped witha quickly-separable connector 63 and with a suitable. switch 64, is in circuit with a source of electric power and with motors for drivingthe air compressor and the cementitious material pump.

The conne'ctor 63 is disposed adjacent the couplings .58, 61, while the switch 64 is attached 'to the air lineAiladjacent the valve by. a suitable clamp 65, the switch 64.

being used to. turn onor olf the air compressor andthe I material pump, as desired.

When the apparatus is placed in operation, fluid cementitious material is discharged throughvthe nozzle 34 while fibrous reinforcing material is simultaneously discharged through the jet'pipe 42 into the space between the.

moved, the wall forming operation proceeds, in a continuous fashion so that the wall is formed monolithically. The simultaneous discharge of the cementitious and fibrous materials results in a homogeneous mixture which lends characteristics of strength and durability to the formed wall. The proportion of reinforcing material in the mixture may be effectively-controlled by the valves 54,55, and if desired, solid reinforcing rods 66,67 may be also embedded in the formed wall during the forming procedure, by simply installing the same in-place between the plates 26. Such rods may extend both vertically and horizontally and be connectedtogether at points of crossing with suitable tie wires, as indicated at 68. The rods may also be screw-threaded as indicated at 69 for longitudinal connection with one another, as formation of the wall progresses. I

The thickness of thewall under formation may be preadjusted by varying the spacing of the frame members 17 on the boom 10, thus correspondingly varying the distance or space between the plates 26. 'The, parallel lower portions' 26a of the plates effectively form. the wall, while the divergent upper portions "26b function in the nature of a funnel for guiding the strams :35, 47 of material into place'between the plates.

As the wall is beingforrried the apparatus is shifted by the boom 16 longitudinally of the wall and it is desirable to exert a lateral compressive forcenonthe sides of the wall so as to produce a certain amount of tamping action of the cementitious material and to finish the sides o'fthe wall with 'a substantial degree of smoothness. This is effected by virtue of the pivotal mounting of the plates 26, whereby these plates may be turned about the axes of the pins 28, 36 in the directions of thearrows 31 in FIGURE 6, so that, considering the apparatus to be moving along the wall in'the direction of the arrow 70,

the leading edges 71-of1the plates 26are drawn apart, while the'trailingedges 72 thereof are drawn togetherand into 'a pressing engagement with the sides of the wall being formed.

Movement of the. plates26iis eifected by providing the upper lugs 27 with arm-like extensions-73 which have connected thereto by suitable pivots74 the pistonrods '75 of a pair of air cylinders 76. Their-latter are'secured by suitable screws 77 'it'o a pair of straps 78 which,'in turn, are welded 'or otherwise secured to the aforementioned uprights '18 of the frame members 17. One of the straps 78 carrying one of the cylinders .76 is provided on each frame member 17 for actuating .theaplate 26 associated therewith, the straps '78 being disposed substantially at the level ofthe cross-pieces'22 and being provided with slots or recesses 79 inwhich the extensions 73 are freely movable.

The cylinders,76 are double-acting, each being provided with a pair of compressed air lines 80, 81. These linesextend upwardlyto and above the boom 16 and are joined together by suitable couplings 82, 83in such mannerthat when air: under pressure .is admitted to the cylinders through the lines 81, the plates .26 are actuated so that the trailing edges 72 thereof are drawn together. On theother hand, when compressed air isadmitted through the lines 8t),"theleading edges71 of the plates are drawn together as indicated by the arrows 32.. a

While primarily it is desired to draw togetheronly the trailing edges of the plates, actuation of the cylinders 76 to-draw the leadingedges of the'plates together permits release of lateral compressive force at the trailing edges, Moreover, ifthe cylindersare actuated alternately in opposite directions, the resultant rocking motion of the plates 26 will impart a-degree of tamping action to the wall being formed, when so desired.

,The' aforementioned couplings 82, 83 communicate with air lines 84, '85, respectively, leading from a suitable control valve 86'mounted on the boom 16, the valve 86, inturn, being connected bya l-ine87 to a source of compressed air, such as for example, the compressor which feeds the aforementioned line 57a. By actuation of the valve 86, compressed air may be delivered to the cylinders 76 selectively through the lines 80, 81.

As already stated, the fibrous reinforcing material 46 bridges the gap or space between the adjacent ends of the pipe 50 and the conduit 53. However, if so desired, thi space or gap may be closed by the installation of a suitable connecting sleeve or tube 88 as shown in FIG- URE 12, which permits materials such as setting agents, coloring agents or various other ingredients to be blown into the cementitious mixture of the wall in substitution for or in addition to the fibrous reinforcing material 46.

It may also be noted that while the aforementioned electric switch 64 may be used to control both the air compressor and the cementitious mixture pump, separate controls may be provided therefor by the installation of another switch, such as for example, a switch 89 on a conductor 9-6 which is held by one or more of the clamps 66. The switch 89 may freely hang adjacent the valves 54, 55 for convenient operation.

The apparatus as thus far described is primarily intended to be supported by the universally movable boom 16, for forming walls in accordance with a preselected geometrical pattern.

However, it may be readily detached from the boom and used, without the wall forming plate 26, in the manner of a portable tool known in the trade as a co-coon gun. This modified arrangement is shown in FIGURE 11 wherein it will be noted that in this instance the downturned portion 33a of the duct 33 is preferably omitted so that the nozzel 34 is in axial alignment with the duct 33, and that the jet tube 42b is similarly straight and projects beyond the nozzle to a greater extent than in the arrangement previously described. The compressed air line 40a is curved so as to feed laterally into the coupling 37, but the arrangement of the other components is substantially the same. The boom 16, the frame members 17 and the plates 26, of course, are omitted, and the apparatus thus arranged may be held and freely manipulated by the hand of the operator so as to discharge the cementitious mixture alone, or cementitious mixture together with fibrous reinforcing material, setting agents, coloring agents, etc., onto the surface of a rough wall already formed, or onto open mesh wire, or the like. As such, the portable apparatus is well adapted either for wall construction or wall finishing such as in plastering, weather proofing, sizing, etc. The portable apparatus may, of course, be used with or without either of the switches 64, 89, and with or without the connecting sleeve 88, as desired.

Referring again to the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 1, it should be noted that the plates 26 are positioned well downwardly from the nozzle 34, so that they engage the formed wall 36 at a level where they properly straddle the reinforcing rods 66, 67 in the wall. This positioning of the plates enables the apparatus to be moved easily back and forth along the formed wall, without interfering in any Way with the reinforcing rods, the cementitiou mixture being blown in and around the rods without the necessity of tamping or vibrating the mixture.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, and various modifications may be resorted to, such as may lie within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a monolithic wall forming apparatus, the combination which comprises a universally movably supporting boom, spaced frame members secured thereto, a duct for fluid cementitious material carried by said boom and having a discharge nozzle disposed between said frame members, a pair of spaced wall forming plates pivoted to the respective frame members for movement about axes substantially parallel to the flow of materials from said nozzle, and power means for simultaneously moving said plates about said axis, whereby to exert lateral pressure on the materials discharged therebetween.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means comprise a pair of air cylinders mounted on the respective frame members and operatively connected to the respective plates.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said plates include substantially parallel lower portions and mutually divergent upper portions disposed adjacent said nozzle and said jet pipe.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 777,633 12/04 Hibbard 25-131 1,53 4,008 4/25 Bongardt. 1,565,845 12/25 Brynoldt 25-131 1,655,676 1/28 Daggett 25-131 1,995,692 3/35 Urschel 25-131 2,165,099 7/39 Hansen 18-57 2,607,100 8/52 Urschel 25-131 2,877,530 3/59 Winn 25-131 FOREIGN PATENTS 539,243 2/56 Italy.

WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

RCBERT F. WHITE, MICHAEL V. BRINDISI,

Examiners. 

1. IN A MONOLITHIC WALL FORMING APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES A UNIVERSALLY MOVABLY SUPPORTING BOOM, SPACED FRAME MEMBERS SECURED THERETO, A DUCT FOR FLUID CEMTNTITIOUS MATERIAL CARRIED BY SAID BOOM AND HAVING A DISCHARGE NOZZLE DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FRAME MEMBERS, A PAIR OF SPACED WALL FORMING PLATES PIVOTED TO THE RESPECTIVE FRAME MEMBERS FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AXES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE FLOW OF MATERIALS FROM SAID NOZZLE, AND POWER MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING SAID PLATES ABOUT SAID AXIS, WHEREBY TO EXERT LATERAL PRESSURE ON THE MATERIALS DISCHARGED THEREBETWEEN. 